Chief of Staff, Office of National Security (ONS), Francis Languba Kelli have said the National Security Coordinating Unit, the highest security coordinating body in the country will deploy twenty-three thousand (23,000) security personals for the upcoming polls on 24th June, 2023.
The ONS Boss made this disclosure during a National Stakeholders Conference organized by International IDEA on the level of preparedness by Elections Management Bodies (EMB).
He disclosed that the security strengthen will be drawn from all the country forces in ensuring that a high breed security posture in place for the elections to be free from all forms of violence.
He added that a national election threat assessment was conducted from November to April this year with funds from Irish Aid.
“Another 189 pages report on generic and specific threat assessment was also conducted with the view to identified threats and flask points across the country.” Francis Kelli.
Kelli continued an integrated election strategy for 2023 elections already developed, that he noted will provide security for physically challenged persons.
The ONS Boss added that training had been rolled out on the specifics of elections and conflict prevention.
With funds from United Nations Development Programs (UNDP), a communications strategy developed and rolled out, he said.
He continued that the security sector needs assessment document will aid the deployment of security personals.
He disclosed that 11 organizations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) on information sharing while the national situation room has activated the 119-toll free line.
ONS’s Chief of Staff noted that an Integrated Intelligent Group activated that he assured will provide security more than its output in the 2018 elections.
He stressed that negotiation will not be allow for any individual that will be found wanting.
He assured all that polling stations and centers across the country will be guard by security personals that will not be armed with guns.
He reminded all that the used of political marshals banned, which he said gives political parties the opportunity to choose their own police officers for themselves.
He said that twenty thousand pocket guides on what is accepted and not accepted for the election printed and distributed to relevant parties to the elections.
The President, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasrallah noted that information is at the center of everything journalist does.
He attributed manipulated information both off and online has been attributed to the many violence conflict of recent.
In ensuring access to credible information, UNDP I Verify Platform website, house at the association headquarters, Campbell Street will be engaging in social media and offline monitoring, he said.
He also cited ‘Super Newsroom’ also funded by the National Democratic Institute, a fact checker and supervisor.
The also sighted the association had trained journalists across the country on Gender Sensitive reporting with funds from European Union (EU).
With regards the safety and security of journalists, he said the association has sighted Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sierra Leone Police to finally end the physical confrontation between the two in riots and other incidences in the discharge of duties.
